A Model for Iberian Wolf ( Canis lupus signatus, Cabrera 1907) Predation Risk Assessment on Cattle in the Central System (Spain)

Javier Velázquez (), Andoni Dios, Derya Gülçin, Ali Uğur Özcan, Ana Hernando, Tomás Santamaría and Alex Salas-López
Additional contact information
Javier Velázquez: Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Environment and Agroforestry, Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Andoni Dios: Saitec, Iturriondo Kalea 18, P.A.E. Ibarrabarri A-2, 48940 Leioa, Spain
Derya Gülçin: Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Landscape Architecture, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın 09100, Turkey
Ali Uğur Özcan: Faculty of Forestry, Department of Landscape Architecture, Çankırı Karatekin University, Çankırı 18200, Turkey
Ana Hernando: Silvanet Research Group, ETSI Montes, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Tomás Santamaría: Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Department of Environment and Agroforestry, Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Alex Salas-López: CNRS, UMR Ecologie de Forêts de Guyane (AgroParisTech, CIRAD, INRAE, Université de Guyane, Université des Antilles), Campus Agronomique, 97300 Kourou, France

Land, 2022, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: As a consequence of the exponential increase of the demographic and technological development of the human being, conflicts with the natural environment are accentuated. Pollution or the loss of biodiversity represent examples of problems that we must face to maintain the balance between the evolution of human beings and the conservation of nature. However, there are conflicts whose origin is not as modern as those mentioned, and we return to the Neolithic to find the origin of the conflict of man with the great predators. This condition has existed since then and at this point in history, is reaching very high levels of tension in developed countries, as a result of the depredation of livestock. Wolf is one of the species that generates more conflict and is currently suffering a slight demographic expansion. Although current laws mostly seek their recovery and conservation, the wolf is experiencing great difficulties due to the poor social perception it has. Faced with this situation, a model has been developed using geographic information systems which categorizes the areas according to their probability that the cattle could suffer a wolf attack. Based on natural and anthropogenic variables of the environment, the areas with a greater or lesser probability of attack were evaluated, with the objective of designing a prevention plan to reduce or eliminate the attacks. Since different authors demonstrate that population control measures on the species are not effective in reducing attacks on livestock, the solution to the conflict should be based on preventive measures. The use of the designed model will enable the competent authorities to apply these measures optimally, reducing expenses and allowing to anticipate future areas of conflict.

Keywords: model; predators; prevention; GIS; wolf; cattle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1389/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/9/1389/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:9:p:1389-:d:896363

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().